Around this time in 2002, Ja Rule and Murder Inc. were at the pinnacle of their success in the music forum. R&B singer Ashanti was in the midst of a 10 week run at number one with her hit song "Foolish" and Ja Rule would score his last major hit as a popular artist in high regard two months later in "Down 4 U," the Murder Inc. posse cut.

But, sometimes in music and other entertainment resources, what goes up must come down. For Ja Rule, it was a very public and sad demise that was ending at the same time it was beginning. Starting from the fall of 2002, and ending in 2003, the music world ...

I was on YouTube one day and ran across a video of R. Kelly, circa early 2002, in a Reebok commercial. Here was the biggest R&B star on the planet on a commercial with one of the biggest sports equipment companies on the plant, as well. But, I couldn't help but think that maybe that was the first and last commercial he made for the company, before he was more and likely dropped stemming his future child pornography charges. R. Kelly was at his peak until that infamous sex tape was released, and now, 11 years later, Reebok had to pull its urban puppeteer Rick Ross under allegations he promot...

The elements of songwriting are simple to some: compose a melody, get some words together and turn it all to form. For those who are songwriters in today’s mainstream music industry, assembly line pop music doesn’t necessarily count. A majority of songwriters today write songs just to get spins on the radio; which means basic song structure consisting of easily-caught melodies and words. But then there are some songwriters who are so gifted at their craft, it’s just mind-blowing on how they come up with their particular composition in terms of structure and rhythm. Michael Jackson, the late...

In light of Michael Jackson's untimely death just over three years ago, the general public has become captivated with the entertainer’s music, personal life, and the lasting impact he had on the world. Jackson has become the topic for scholars, writers, and historians who have to dig into the man that was so wrongfully misunderstood.

In the forefront of the post-Jackson hysteria, is author Joseph Vogel, who has covered Michael Jackson in a variety of essays posted online and also penned the book "Man in the Music: The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson", which gives the most in-dept...

Yesterday, the twitter/music world was taken by storm with the news of media darling R&B singer Frank Ocean, confessing in a Tumblr post that he has in the past, been in love with a man, and has been struggling with his feelings for the man for years. The news came late last night and took the music world by storm with varied reaction. Many showcased their love for Ocean, and many, of course, shouted slurs and even began the ever-predictable Bible thumping. But my question today is why does it matter what his sexual orientation is?

I like Wale. I can’t say that I am a die-hard fan, but his apparent talent of putting words together in a rap song is something to rave about. Since releasing his mix tape “More about Nothing” in 2010 and signing with Rick Ross label Maybach Music Group in 2011, Wale began gaining fanfare that he never had, and it was apparent when he released his second album Ambition which had a huge turn around in terms of sales compared to his first album Attention Deficit.

But as we all know, and as clichéd as it comes, success comes envy. With that said, no rapper has gotten more backlash on the Twit...

From the top of spring 2007, to the end of 2008, no one in hip hop at the time had a bigger hold on the game of rap than Algernod Lanier Washington, better known to the world as Plies. Sure, Lil Wayne during that time was reaching the peak of his rap career by releasing mix tapes, making frequent guest appearances and features, and also releasing his triple platinum album “Tha Carter III”. But to be fair, in terms of street cred, marketability, image, and mainstream production, Plies had all the intangibles that record executives presently look for in terms of the next budding rap star.

When you look at someone who succeeds in a certain field, there are always numerous factors on why that person’s particular talent is above the rest and he or she seems to always excel. Take Peyton Manning, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Denzel Washington, and even Albert Pujols, and it is evident that these special talents have not only shown the world their skills, but also inherited the proficiency of their particular areas. They do it for the art of their field. Not that sports and music goes hand in hand because they don’t, it’s just those particular athletes love their arena. And becaus...

Before pop superstar Michael Jackson’s death in June of 2009, his name was more of a draw as his association with global popularity first, his social and physical demise second, and his music and artistry third. In the wake of his passing, his music was suddenly revived to pre-1993 status as people sang along and played his memorable hits such as Remember The time, Billie Jean, Off The Wall, etc. His classic album Thriller began to be played like it was 1983 again and the album itself began to fly off the shelf, with its latest certification of 29 million sold certified just weeks after his...